Prerequisites: The workshop will assume that participants have some experience teaching writing workshop that is centered on daily time for independent writing.

Dates: January 12, 2017; 8:30 am registration; 9-3:30 pm

This one-day workshop for teachers of grades 4-8 will focus on essay and argumentative writing that inspires kids to write passionately about topics that matter to them. You’ll practice creating a classroom environment that inspires kids to explore big ideas, and create a culture of thoughtful consideration of multiple perspectives and debate.

Participants will:
• have a chance to develop tried and true mini-lessons for helping kids overcome writer’s block
• learn how to help students develop a strong thesis
• be able to support students elaborating on an idea in a way that not only conveys the message clearly – but also pulls the reader in to get them to care about the topic, too

The day will be packed with practical classroom-ready strategies for a range of essay types.

Text: The Journey is Everything: Teaching Essays That Students Want to Write for People Who Want to Read Them, by Katherine Bomer